My name is Joe LaBarbera and I am a Junior golfer at the University of Dubuque. My name is Joe LaBarbera, I am from Elmwood Park, Illinois, and I am a Junior on the men’s golf team at University of Dubuque. I played a variety of sports, including golf, baseball, and basketball at a competitive level during high school. Sports have been a major part of my life ever since I was a kid and have helped me with mental health and given me something to look forward to every day. I have created so many friendships and relationships with coaches that I will carry on with me forever. My first competitive golf meet was my freshman year of high school, and I never was serious about it until my sophomore year of high school. I never understood how much the game of golf would do for me as a person until that year. The places that golf has taken me and the friends and connections over the years is something that takes me away from the real world and helps me realize how amazing the world and people in it can be. It is my relaxation and has given me so much more than just a competition or a game. Golf has helped me grow mentally and physically in a way I never thought possible. Athletics is a huge reason why I maintain my emotional and physical health and strive to continue to grow as an athlete, student, and person. I encourage everyone to find a passion and allow it to drive you to great things and to meet great people that can help you along the way. It will enrich your life in the immediacy and provide the skills and the health for a lifetime.
